Lenin's Tomb: The Last Days of the Soviet Empire

by David Remnick

Once, when Shcharansky was refused permission to celebrate Hanukkah, he went on a hunger strike. Osin didn’t want a scandal and cut a quick deal: if Shcharansky would end the hunger strike, he could light his Hanukkah candles. Shcharansky agreed, but demanded that while he said the appropriate prayers, Osin would stand by with his head covered and, at the end, say “Amen.” “Blessed are You, oh Lord, for allowing me to light these candles,” Shcharansky began in Hebrew. “May you allow me to light the Hanukkah candles many times in your city, Jerusalem, with my wife, Avital, and my family and friends.” Inspired by the sight of Osin, Shcharansky added, “And may the day come when all our enemies, who today are planning our destruction, will stand before us and hear our prayers and say, ‘Amen.’ ” “Amen,” Osin repeated. Shcharansky quickly spread the word in Perm-35 of Osin’s “conversion.” This meant a freezing stint in the isolation cell, but Shcharansky could not resist.